C1idiomhealthIELTS-friendly
a shadow of your former self
USUK
much weaker, thinner or less impressive than before
Also used for places, teams and companies ('a shadow of its former self'). The possessive changes with the subject.
In context
After the long illness, my uncle was a shadow of his former self.
The club, once the champion of the league, is now a shadow of its former self.
More idioms about health
- a clean bill of healtha doctor's statement, after an examination, that someone is healthy
- a new lease of lifenew energy, or a chance to be active or useful again
- a ripe old agea very old age, reached in good health
- a second windnew energy that lets you continue after you felt too tired
- a splitting headachea very bad headache